WHEATON 14, ELMHURST 4 (Game One) – Wheaton won the opening game of the doubleheader by blasting Elmhurst 14-4 in a seven-inning contest.

 

The game was tied at two after two and a half innings, but Wheaton scored a run in the third to reclaim a 3-2 lead. The Thunder scored three runs in the fourth and fifth and added four runs in the sixth to pull away. An error on Elmhurst in the bottom of the seventh allowed the Thunder to earn the walk-off win due to the 10-run mercy rule.

 

Wheaton smashed three home runs in contest.

 

Elmhurst grabbed an early lead when Zach Hofer smacked a solo homer in the first inning. Nick Herrera singled home a run in the third to tie the game at two. Dan Matkovic and Keaton Landis added RBI base hits in the sixth inning to account for Elmhurst's final runs.

 

Matkovic finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a run scored an RBI. Hofer finished 2-for-3 at the plate with the home run.

 

Wheaton's Ryan Miller finished 4-for-5 with three RBI to lead the Thunder. Charlie Antal went 2-for-2 with four runs scored and four RBI. He hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning.

 

Cody Boals (2-3) took the loss for Elmhurst. Boals made the start and was tagged for eight hits and nine runs in 4.2 innings of work. He walked five and fanned six.

 

Steve Dennison (3-2) earned the win for Wheaton, pitching a complete game and allowing nine hits and four runs. He walked three and struck out six.

WHEATON 19, ELMHURST 9 (Game Two) – Elmhurst dropped the third and final game of the series against Wheaton 19-9 despite a record-setting performance by Herrera.

 

Herrera was a one-man wrecking crew for the Bluejays. Herrera tied an Elmhurst and NCAA Division III single-game record by bashing four home runs in the loss. He smashed two solo homers, a three-run homer, and a grand slam.

 

The Thunder continued to play long ball, smashing five home runs in the victory.

 

Wheaton jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two-and-a-half innings. The Bluejays battled back to knot the score at four in the bottom of the third. Herrera started the scoring by blasting a two-run shot to left field. After a pair of Elmhurst singles, Keaton Landis singled home a run to pull Elmhurst to within a run. After a walk to Dan Bosco, Vince Mathe drew a bases loaded walk to knot the score at four.

 

The Thunder scored four runs in the fourth and fifth to reclaim the lead.

 

Elmhurst battled back in the bottom of the sixth as Herrera belted his third straight home-run, a grand slam, pulling Elmhurst to within three runs.

 

Wheaton answered right back with three runs in the top of the sixth, two coming on Charlie Antal's third straight homer, a three-run blast. The Thunder added two runs in the seventh to take an 18-9 lead.

 

The Bluejays' final run came in the bottom of the seventh as Herrera belted his fourth and final home run of the day.

 

Herrera finished the day 5-for-6 at the plate with four home runs. He scored four runs and drove in eight. He set an Elmhurst single-game record with 17 total bases in the loss.

 

Matkovic and Mike Kerr each added two hits apiece in the loss.

 

Antal led the Thunder offensive attack with three home runs and six RBI.

 

Dan Napientek (1-2) took the loss for Elmhurst, allowing six hits and eight runs (six earned) in 2.2 innings of work. He walked four and struck out two.

 

Elmhurst hosts the University of Chicago on Tuesday, April 21, at 3:30 p.m.